Biking along the Adirondack Trail Scenic Byway

From the Old Erie Canal on the Mohawk River near Fonda to historic Malone, the 188-mile Adirondack Trail presents “the REAL Adirondack Adventure.” The route carves its way through the foothills right into the core of the Adirondack Mountains, retracing historic trails across frontiers explored by settlers, soldiers and early guides. The magnificent wilderness landscape is filled with wildlife. Drive or bike to trailheads leading to some of the best mountain peaks and canoe routes in the region.

A string of lake communities along the central portion of the Adirondack Trail, including Tupper Lake, Long Lake, Blue Mountain Lake, Indian Lake, Speculator and Northville, offer spectacular scenery as well as beaches and a variety of other recreational opportunities .

At the north end near the Canadian border is Malone with its historic architecture, while at the south are the historic industrial centers of Gloversville and Johnstown, as well as Fonda, the Byway’s southern anchor along the Old Erie Canal and the Mohawk River.

Road touring is pleasant and scenic along the Adirondack Trail. A number of side loops provide spectacular scenery and access to a number of historic sites and museums. There is a variety of mountain biking opportunities both in and out of the Adirondack Park. Two of the region’s bike paths offer relaxing opportunities to enjoy a family bike ride: the FJ&G Rail Trail (Fonda, Gloversville & Johnstown) and the Erie Canal Trail just across the Mohawk River from Fonda.

Community Connections along the Adirondack Trail

What to see and do while biking along or near the Adirondack Trail is highlighted in each of the following four byway segments, starting in the north (click on the segments to view).

When biking in a rural area, services could be few and far between, and cell phone service may not always be available. See the Before You Ride notices in the bottom section of this website, as well as the Disclaimer notice.

Below are some of the sights along the way – scroll over an image to see its title, or click an image to enlarge it and then move through the entire gallery (click on one of the large images to return here).

Project Partners

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Other Bike Information

This is a New York State Scenic Byways Program project managed by the Adirondack North Country Association, funded by the Federal Highway Administration and administered by the New York State Department of Transportation.